One-Skillet Dinners That You Can Make in Less Than 30 Minutes

Cooking dinner at home can get messy, which is a real bummer for those who hate the clean-up. The trick to avoiding a night of scrubbing is to pick recipes that require only one pan or skillet. And many of your favorite recipes can be mastered in the skillet in fewer than 30 minutes. These dishes make it easy to say no to takeout.

1. Easy Skillet Lasagna

Lasagna rolls | iStock.com/VeselovaElena

Lasagna can be daunting, but this skillet recipe from Betty Crocker keeps it easy. From browning the beef to simmering the sauce, everything comes together in a single pan. This lasagna is still decadent, but it’s also simpler and more healthy than anything you’d get at a restaurant. And most importantly, the clean-up is easy.

Ingredients:

1 pound lean ground beef

1 small onion, chopped

1 small green bell pepper, chopped

1½ cups uncooked mafalda (mini-lasagna noodles)

1¼ cups water

¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning

1 (14-ounce) jar tomato pasta sauce

1 (4.5-ounce) jar sliced mushrooms, drained

⅓ cup shredded mozzarella cheese, if desired

Directions: Cook beef, onion and bell pepper in a skillet over medium-high heat about 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until beef is brown; drain.

2. Mexican Skillet Rice

Chicken and rice bowll | iStock.com

If you’re craving Mexican rather than Italian, this recipe from Taste of Home is for you. It’s a one-skillet meal that serves 6 in just 30 minutes. You’ll cook your egg, chicken, and onion in the skillet before adding rice, beans, peppers, and taco sauce. Then, it’s time to sprinkle in your cilantro and serve.

Ingredients:

1 large egg, beaten

1 pound chicken tenderloins, chopped

1 small onion, chopped

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 cups cooked jasmine or long grain rice

1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 (11-ounce) can Mexican-style corn, drained

1 (7-ounce) jar roasted sweet red peppers, drained and sliced

1 (8-ounce) jar taco sauce

2 green onions, chopped

¼ cup minced fresh cilantro

Directions: In a large skillet coated with cooking spray, cook and stir egg over medium-high heat until set. Remove and set aside.

3. Chili-Pasta Skillet

Chili mac and cheese | iStock.com

Enjoy the flavor of chili without the lengthy cooking time with this skillet meal from Better Homes & Gardens. It features beans, beef, tomatoes, elbow macaroni, peppers, and cheese. This chili-pasta skillet will serve 6 and can be ready in under 30 minutes.

4. One-Skillet Chicken with Broccoli and Croutons

Grilled chicken on plate | iStock.com

This chicken meal from The Kitchn is an easy dinner that serves 4 and requires little prep and clean-up. You can make your main meal and side dish by cooking everything together in the skillet. The garlicky roasted vegetables and homemade croutons will complement the chicken perfectly for a delicious meal you’ll make again and again.

Sprinkle the chicken breasts on all sides with salt and pepper, then carefully add them to the skillet skin-side down. Cook the chicken for 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate.

Add the garlic to the pan and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Stir in the broccoli. Return the chicken to the pan, nestling it among the broccoli florets. Place the pan in the oven and roast for 15 minutes.

Tear the bread into bite-sized pieces and nestle the bread among the chicken and broccoli. Roast for 10 more minutes, until the bread is toasty at the tips and a thermometer registers 165 degrees when inserted into the thickest part of the largest chicken breast. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

5. Skillet Pizza

Try cooking pizza in a skillet | iStock.com

Last but not least is a meal everyone knows and loves: pizza. Make it even easier with this skillet recipe from Rachael Ray. If you go the frozen pizza dough route, you’ll only need a handful of other ingredients. You’ll roll the pizza dough into a skillet, then top with any sauce and garnishes you’d like. Bake for 20 minutes, then get ready to enjoy homemade pizza straight from the pan.

Ingredients:

1 ball frozen pizza dough, thawed

Flour

1 cup pizza sauce

1½ cups mozzarella cheese, shredded

½ cup pepperoni, sliced

¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated

Red pepper flakes, for serving

Dried Oregano, for serving

Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

On a floured work surface, roll the pizza dough out to the size of your 12-inch cast-iron pan. Place the pizza dough into the pan, trimming off any access. Top the pizza with sauce, mozzarella cheese, pepperoni and Parmesan. Place the pan into the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until cheese begins to brown on top.

Remove from oven, garnish with red pepper flakes and oregano, and let cool for 5 minutes. Remove the pizza from the pan, slice and serve.